Poinsettia plant named ‘Rinebob’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Poinsettia  plant named ‘Rinebob’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely and upright to somewhat outwardly branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; plants flower on or about November 18 in Southern California when grown under natural season conditions; broad and horizontal flower bracts that are light greenish white to white in color; numerous cyathia per inflorescence; and good post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RINEBOB’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

The Inventor/Applicant assert that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant.Inventor/Applicant hereby claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C.102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but lessthan one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPoinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild., andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Rinebob’.

The new Poinsettia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new early-flowering Poinsettia plantshaving white-colored flower bracts and excellent post-productionlongevity.

The new Poinsettia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in January, 2016 of a proprietary selection of Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 14-990, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent, with Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘Rineal’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,633, as the male, or pollen, parent.The new Poinsettia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor asa single flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall,Calif. in November, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. sinceApril, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Poinsettiaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Rinebob’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Rinebob’ as a new and distinct Poinsettiaplant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly and uniformly mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely and upright to somewhat outwardly branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. When grown under natural flowering season conditions plants        flower on or about November 18 in Southern California.    -   6. Broad and horizontal flower bracts that are light greenish        white to white in color.    -   7. Numerous cyathia develop per inflorescence.    -   8. Good post-production longevity.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of thenew Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia are larger than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia have larger flower bracts than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are not as        bright white in color as flower bracts of plants of the female        parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Poinsettia have better postproduction        longevity than plants of the female parent selection.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of thenew Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the male parent,‘Rineal’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia are broader than and not as        upright as plants of ‘Rineal’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Poinsettia are darker green in        color than leaves of plants of ‘Rineal’.    -   3. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are broader and        more horizontal (not as upright) as flower bracts of plants of        ‘Rineal’.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. ‘Fispue White’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.13,659. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Poinsettia differprimarily from plants of ‘Fispue White’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia are larger than and not as        compact as plants of ‘Fispue White’.    -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia have larger flower bracts than        plants of ‘Fispue White’.    -   3. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are more white        in color than flower bracts of plants of ‘Fispue White’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Poinsettia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Poinsettia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘Rinebob’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Rinebob’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdetailed description were grown during the autumn and winter in 15.25-cmcontainers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif.under natural season conditions and cultural practices typical ofcommercial Poinsettia production. During the production of the plants,day temperatures ranged from 24° C. to 26° C., night temperaturesaveraged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 5,000 to 6,000foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and were five months fromunrooted cuttings when the photographs and the description were taken.In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘Rinebob’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia            pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 14-990, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.            ‘Rineal’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,633.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at            temperatures about 19° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 26 days            at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 28 days            at temperatures about 19° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to somewhat outwardly            spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; broad inverted            triangle; inflorescences with numerous flower bracts            positioned above the foliar plane; vigorous growth habit and            moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 34 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 47.5 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely            branching habit, about seven lateral branches develop after            pinching; upright to somewhat outwardly branching habit.            Length: About 27 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Internode length:            About 2 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° to 40° from            vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.            Color: Close to between 146A and 146B.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 13 cm. Width: About 9.5 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate.            Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate with obtuse tendencies.            Margin: Entire. Aspect: Outwardly to slightly drooping with            development. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Glabrous; prominent venation; matte. Venation            pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing leaves, upper            surface: Darker green than 147A. Developing leaves, lower            surface: Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: Darker green than N189A; venation, close to 146A            and 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to            147B; venation, close to 146B to 146C. Leaf petioles:            Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 3.5 mm.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 146B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Terminal inflorescences are            compound corymbs of cyathia with numerous colored flower            bracts subtending the cyathia; inflorescences uniformly            positioned above the foliar plane.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural season conditions, plants            typically flower on or about November 18 in Southern            California; under artificial long nyctoperiod/short            photoperiod conditions, plants flower about eight weeks            later.        -   Post-production longevity.—Good post-production longevity;            plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good substance and            flower bract color for about six weeks under interior            conditions; flower bracts persistent and cyathia not            persistent.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 29 cm to 33 cm.        -   Inflorescence height (depth).—About 10.5 cm.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: Numerous,            about 30. Length, largest bracts: About 15 cm. Width,            largest bracts: About 10 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex:            Acuminate. Base: Obtuse to truncate. Margin: Mostly entire.            Aspect: Slightly upright to mostly horizontal, older flower            bracts slightly drooping with development. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Glabrous with prominent venation;            matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color:            Transitional bracts, upper surface: Close to 4D variably            tinged with close to 144A. Transitional bracts, lower            surface: Close to 4D slightly tinged with close to 144C.            Developing bracts, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 158D.            Fully expanded bracts, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            155A to 155B; venation, similar to lamina; color does not            change with development. Bract petioles: Length: About            3.75 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm by 3 mm. Texture and luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.        -   Cyathia.—Quantity per corymb: About 15 to 18. Length: About            1.4 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, inner surface:            Close to 146B to 146C. Color, outer surface: Close to 144A            to 144B.        -   Nectaries.—Quantity per cyathium: One. Length: About 7.5 mm.            Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Fan-shaped. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, inner and outer            surfaces: Close to 13A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 mm to 7 mm. Diameter: About            2.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright to            outwardly. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Color: Close to 144A to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per cyathium: About            20 to 24. Filament length: About 5 mm to 7 mm. Filament            color: Close to 145D. Anther shape: Round to oval; bi-lobed.            Anther length: About 1.25 mm. Anther color: Close to 13A.            Amount of pollen: Scarce to moderate. Pollen color: Close to            13A. Pistils: Quantity per cyathium: One; tri-parted. Pistil            length: About 8.5 mm. Stigma shape: Lanceolate, six-parted,            recurved. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style length: About            3 mm. Style color: Close to 145B to 145D. Ovary color: Close            to 145D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have            not been observed on plants of the new Poinsettia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Poinsettia    have been observed to be relatively resistant to Botrytis. Plants    have not been shown to be resistant to pests and other pathogens    common to Poinsettia plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 13° C. to about    32° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘Rinebob’ asillustrated and described.